In memoriam: Dee Blackstock MW

Dee Blackstock MW passed away on the 20 July 2025, following a short illness, at the age of 76.

Dee joined the wine trade in 1984 with Gerard Harris Fine Wines Ltd (retail side of The Bell Inn, Aston Clinton). In 1991 she joined Waitrose PLC (the food division of John Lewis PLC) where she was a Wine Buyer until 2013 – areas of responsibility during this time included: Champagne, all sparkling wine, New Zealand, Australia, Burgundy, Rhone, South of France, Germany, South Africa.

In 1992, she passed the Master of Wine exams at the first attempt, securing a bursary scholarship for the marketing paper. She then went on to study for the Institute of Grocery Distribution diploma and was awarded a scholarship for overall marks. In recognition of her services to French wine in her buying role she was made a Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole.

Upon retirement from Waitrose she became a freelance consultant. In addition to her consultancy work Dee was a member of the UK’s Government Wine Committee, judge at the IWSC and Decanter World Wine Awards and part of the regular tasting panel for a consumer Wine App.

Dee will be deeply missed and is survived by her children Kirsty, Fergus, Torquil & Alexa.

If you would like to pass on your condolences to the family, the IMW can arrange this for you. The family are holding a celebration of Dee’s life on Wednesday 6 August 2025 in Amersham, UK. RSVP’s are required by the 30 July.

Please email Karen Carrillo: kcarrillo@mastersofwine.org for further information.